Effects of Long-Term Treatment with a Blend of Highly Purified Olive Secoiridoids on Cognition and Brain ATP Levels in Aged NMRI Mice

Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2018 Oct 30:2018:4070935. doi: 10.1155/2018/4070935. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Aging represents a major risk factor for developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). As components of the Mediterranean diet, olive polyphenols may play a crucial role in the prevention of AD. Since mitochondrial dysfunction acts as a final pathway in both brain aging and AD, respectively, the effects of a mixture of highly purified olive secoiridoids were tested on cognition and ATP levels in a commonly used mouse model for brain aging. Over 6 months, female NMRI mice (12 months of age) were fed with a blend containing highly purified olive secoiridoids (POS) including oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol and oleurosid standardized for 50 mg oleuropein/kg diet (equivalent to 13.75 mg POS/kg b.w.) or the study diet without POS as control. Mice aged 3 months served as young controls. Behavioral tests showed deficits in cognition in aged mice. Levels of ATP and mRNA levels of NADH-reductase, cytochrome-c-oxidase, and citrate synthase were significantly reduced in the brains of aged mice indicating mitochondrial dysfunction. Moreover, gene expression of Sirt1, CREB, Gap43, and GPx-1 was significantly reduced in the brain tissue of aged mice. POS-fed mice showed improved spatial working memory. Furthermore, POS restored brain ATP levels in aged mice which were significantly increased. Our results show that a diet rich in purified olive polyphenols has positive long-term effects on cognition and energy metabolism in the brain of aged mice.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism*
  • Aging / drug effects*
  • Aging / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Cognition / drug effects*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Iridoids / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Neuroblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Neuroblastoma / metabolism
  • Neuroblastoma / pathology
  • Olea / chemistry*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Iridoids
  • Adenosine Triphosphate